WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 Even as she promoted her efforts to boost clean energy, Vice President Kamala Harris said in Tuesday's debate that the Biden-Harris administration has overseen 鈥渢he largest increase in domestic oil production in history because of an approach that recognizes that we cannot over rely on foreign oil.鈥
The comment by Harris, a longtime climate hawk who backed , surprised supporters and opponents alike 鈥 and conflicted with frequent boasts by Harris and President Joe Biden that they are
After former President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Biden-Harris administration reentered the global pact aimed at reducing emissions. The administration also set a and moved to accelerate renewable energy projects and shift away from fossil fuels.
Liam Donovan, a Republican strategist, said it was notable that at a debate in energy-rich Pennsylvania, Harris chose to 鈥渂rag about something that President Biden has barely acknowledged 鈥 that domestic fossil fuel production under the Biden administration is at an all-time high.鈥 Crude production averaged 12.9 million barrels a day last year, eclipsing a previous record set in 2019 under Trump, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The statement was 鈥渁nother sign of Harris鈥 sprint to the middle鈥 on energy policy and other issues, said Donovan, who works with energy industry clients at the Bracewell law and lobbying firm.
Harris went one step further, rebranding the 鈥 the administration's signature climate law 鈥 as thanks to lease-sale requirements inserted into the bill by independent West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a key swing vote in the Senate and a strong supporter of the fossil fuel industry.
Harris's comments disappointed some in the environmental community.
鈥淗arris missed a critical opportunity to lay out a stark contrast with Trump and show young voters that she will stand up to Big Oil and stop the climate crisis,'' said Stevie O鈥橦anlon, a spokesperson for the Sunrise Movement, one of the groups behind the Green New Deal.
鈥淗arris spent more time promoting fracking than laying out a bold vision for a clean energy future,'' O'Hanlon said. 鈥淵oung voters want more from Harris'' on climate change, she added. 鈥淲e want to see a real plan that meets the scale and urgency of this crisis.''
Her group is working to turn out young voters, 鈥渂ut we hear people asking every day, 鈥榃hat are Democrats going to do for us?鈥欌 O'Hanlon said. 鈥淭o win, Harris needs to show young people she will fight for us.鈥
Other environmental groups were less critical, citing the looming threat to climate action posed by Trump, who rolled back more than 100 environmental protections during his term as president.
鈥淭here is only one presidential candidate who is a champion for climate action and that is Kamala Harris,'' said Alex Glass, speaking for Climate Power, a liberal advocacy group. Harris "laid out a clear vision to invest in clean energy jobs and lower costs for working families,'' Glass said.
By comparison, she said, Trump "will do the bidding of his Big Oil donors.''
Glass cited the conservative written by Trump allies, saying it will put millions of clean-energy jobs at risk and let oil companies "profiteer and pollute.'' Trump has to Project 2025 but has endorsed some of its key ideas.
Mike Sommers, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, the oil and gas industry's top lobbying group, said Harris' comment in support of fracking reflected political reality in the closely contested election. 鈥淵ou have to be for fracking to be elected president in 2024,'' he said. 鈥淭hat's good news for our industry and great news for American consumers.''
Asked why he was so confident about the need to support fracking, Sommers offered a one-word answer: 鈥淧ennsylvania.鈥
Not only is it a key swing state in the election, Pennsylvania also 鈥渋s the beating heart of the natural gas industry in this country,鈥 Sommers said, second only to Texas in total production.
"You don't win Pennsylvania without supporting fracking, and you don't win the presidency without Pennsylvania,'' Sommers said.
In the debate, Trump but Sommers said he takes Harris at her word and welcomes her support for fracking and oil drilling more generally.
Asked if he was concerned about Harris' past actions suing oil companies, Sommers said no. The oil and gas industry supports 11 million jobs, he said, and the price of gasoline 鈥渋s determined by economics 鈥 supply and demand. There is no man behind the curtain鈥 rigging prices.
As California attorney general, Harris 鈥渨on tens of millions in settlements against Big Oil and held polluters accountable,'' her campaign says. Her platform includes a promise to 鈥漢old polluters accountable to secure clean air and water for all.''
Trump, meanwhile, has and other programs, and said he will target offshore wind projects. He said Harris would move to restrict onshore oil and gas production if elected.
鈥淭hey鈥檒l go back to destroying our country, and oil will be dead, fossil fuel will be dead,鈥 Trump said.
A president鈥檚 power to restrict fracking, even on federal lands, is limited, and barring the practice on private land would require an act of Congress.
